Spectator-stand with central display section and individually rotatable capsules movable relative to display section

ABSTRACT

A spectator-stand comprises a plurality of capsules disposed in annular arrangement for rotation about their own axis and about a display section having models, pictures and the like. The capsules have a window serving as an entrance and also as an exit, wherein the window serves as an entrance and an exit when it faces outwardly and as an observation window when it faces inwardly toward the display section. As the capsules rotate about the display section, different scenes in the display section may be viewed therefrom.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,873,085 Nakamura I 1 [4 Mar. 25, 1975 SPECTATOR-STAND WITH CENTRAL 487,490 12/1892 Motte 272/17 DISPLAY SECTION AND INDIVIDUALLY l So i5 ooper, r MOVABLE 2,499,470 3/1950 Duncan 272/37 X I PLAY SECTION 3,233,346 2/l966 Cornberg 35/60 Inventor: Nakamura, Jap Helllg: X 3,554,l30 l/l97l Broggie et al l04/75 [73] Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nakamura SeisakuJo Tokyo Japan Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham [22] Filed: Jan. 10, 1973 Assistant Examiner-R. T. Stouffer Attorney, Agent. or Firm-Toren, McGeady and [211 App]. No.. 322,396 Stanger [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT July 18, 1972 Japan 47-71244 A spectatopstand comprises a plurality of Capsules disposed in annular arrangement for rotation about [52] US. Cl 272/25, 1502406755, their Own axis and about a p y section having [5 1] Int C 5 31/00 els, pictures and the like. The capsules have a window [58] Fie'ld l7 serving as an entrance and also as an exit, wherein the 40/30 52/6 64 6 5 1 73 10 7 window serves as an entrance and an exit when it faces outwardly and as an observation window when it 104/71 faces inwardly toward the display section. As the cap- [56] References Cited sules rotate about the display section, different scenes in the display section may be viewed therefrom.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHARZS 197 5 smau s PATENTEUHAR25I975 sum u of mwm pmsww uwN SPECTATOR-STAND WITH CENTRAL DISPLAY SECTION AND INDIVIDUALLY ROTATABLE CAPSULES MOVABLE RELATIVE TO DISPLAY SECTION This invention relates to a spectator-stand adapted to be provided in amusement parks, pleasure grounds and the like.

In amusement parks and the like, there have hitherto been provided show booths specializing in ghost shows or the like in which the floor and walls are rotated at high speed relative to each other about a vertical axis or a horizontal axis, and various models, pictures and other displays are mounted on the rotating wall.

This invention has as its object the provision of a novel spectator-stand which is distinguished over conventional structures of the type described.

According to the invention, there is provided a spectator-stand comprising a plurality of capsules disposed on a base and adapted to move along a predetermined path about a vertical center axis of the spectator-stand,

the capsules being equidistantly spaced apart from each other and from the vertical center axis, and each of the capsules being formed in one portion thereof with a window serving concurrently as an entrance and exit and closed in other portions thereof; a display section comprising models, pictures and the like arranged in the center of the spectator-stand inwardly of all said capsules and about said vertical center axis; and means for moving the capsules and the display section relative to one another so that the windows of the capsules may move along the display section.

The spectator-stand according to the present invention permits each spectator who enters one of the capsules facing. outwardly of the stand and takes a seat therein to be automatically turned around to face inwardly to watch the displays arranged in the center of the spectator-stand, and to be automatically turned round to face outwardly of the stand to be ready to leave the spectator-stand when the capsule he is seated in has completed its revolution.

Additional and other objects of the invention as well as itsfeatures and advantages will become evident from the description set forth hereinafter when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the spectator-stand according to the present invention with a part being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line lI-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in explanation of the essential portions of the spectator-stand according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view in explanation of a modification of the mechanism for causing the capsules to turn around on its own axis;

FIG. 5 is a view in explanation of'another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram for the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 1, a plurality of capsules 2A, 2B, 2C 2F are disposed on a base 1 for rotation about a fixed center vertical shaft 5 (FIG. 2) together with a floor 3 and a roof 4. 6 designates various kinds of ornaments provided in the spectator-stand, and 7 a window provided in capsule 2A which serves concurrently as an entrance and exit and which faces outwardly at the entrance and exit position as subsequently to be described.

Each capsule is connected at its opposite ends to the floor 3 and the roof 4 for rotation about its own axis. Each capsule is connected to the floor 3 through a shaft 8 as shown in FIG. 1 and to roof4 through a shaft 9 as shown in FIG. 3. Each capsule has a light 10 and a xenon lamp 11 arranged on its ceiling.

In FIG. 2, a partition wall 12 is shown as being disposed between the adjacent two capsules, with partition walls 12 being arranged radially of the vertical center axis of the spectator-stand. The capsule 2A which is shown in the entrance and exit position of the spectator-stand has its window 7 facing outwardly as aforementioned while the other capsules all have their windows 7 face inwardly. Each capsule is closed at its top and bottom and at its peripheral wall except for the portion in the peripheral wall in which window 7 is formed.

A half-mirror 13 is mounted between the inner ends of the adjacent two partition walls 12 and disposed inwardly of each capsule. Displays comprising models,

' pictures and the like are mounted further inwardly of half-mirrors 13. A lamp 15 is provided just inwardly of each half-mirror 13 to illuminate the displays. The construction of the display section is not limited to the example shown and any construction and system may be used for displays in the spectator-stand according to the invention.

The rotatable spectator-stand comprising capsules 2A, 2B, 2C-2F, the floor 3 and the roof 4 is revolved about shaft 5 by an electric motor 16 through a speed reducing means 17 and a chain 18. Motor 16 is temporarily stopped in its rotation by means of a detection switch after the spectator-stand has made an angular revolution through a predetermined angle, or through 60 in the illustrated embodiment, to stop the spectator-stand in its revolution and cause the same to commence its revolution again after lapse of a predetermined time interval. 22 designates a chair disposed in each capsule.

In FIG. 3, a pinion 19 is secured to the shaft 8 ofeach capsule, and a plurality of pin racks 20 and 21 each having a number of pins arranged in a row are disposed on opposite sides of the entrance and exit position of the spectator-stand. The capsule indexed with the entrance and exit position of the spectator-stand has its pinion l9 engaged by rack 20as the spectator-stand revolves on its own axis, so that the capsule is turned around its axis through to face outwardly of the spectator-stand. When the particular capsule is brought out of index with the entrance and exit position of the spectator-stand as the latter revolves on its own axis, pinion 19 is brought into engagement with rack 21, so that the capsule is turned around through another 180 to face inwardly of the spectator-stand.

Operation of the aforementioned spectator-standaccording to the invention will now be described. The

capsule 2A indexed with the entrance and exit position of the spectator-stand as shown in FIG. 2 has its win dow 7 facing outwardly, sothat a person who has already watched the displays leaves the capsule through the window 7 serving as an exit while a person who is going to watch the displays enters the capsule through the same serving as an entrance and is seated on chair 22. When he or she is seated, the person entering the capsule faces toward the window or outwardly of the spectator-stand.

After remaining stationary for a predetermined time interval of six seconds, for example, the spectator-stand starts revolving again and the pinion 19 (FIG. 3) secured to the shaft 8 of capsule 2A is brought into engagement with pin rack 21, so that capsule2A turns around about shaft 8 through 180 and the person sitting on bench and window 7 now faces inwardly of the spectator-stand. At the same time, the lights 10 in all the capsules which have been on till then are turned off and the lamps for all the capsules are turned on. Then, the spectator-stand revolves through 60 and stops to remains stationary for another 6 seconds, for example. During the interval of 6 seconds, the person in capsule 2A can watch the models, picture or other displays in the display section 14 through window 7 and half-mirror 13.

After lapse of 6 seconds, for example, the lamps 15 for all the capsules are turned off while the lights 10 are turned on and the xenon lamps 11 are instantaneously turned on and off. Then, the spectator-stand begins to revolve again to convey the spectator in capsule 2A to the next display section. The spectator watches also his or her own image reflected by the half-mirror. Since the half-mirror is curved, the image is distorted and amuses'the spectator.

.The spectator in capsule 2A is conveyed through all the five display sections, for example, and capsule 2A is brought into index with the entrance and exit position of the spectator-stand again after it has cleared the last display section (in which capsule 2F is shown as being disposed in FIG. 2). As soon as capsule 2A is indexed with the entrance and exit position, the pinion 19 in capsule 2A is brought into index with pin rack 20 and capsule 2A is turned round through 180, so that the window 7 in capsule 2A faces outwardly of the spectator-stand. The spectator leaves capsule through window 7 which serves as an exit and a new spectator enters capsule 2A and the aforementioned cycle-is repeated.

A support frame 23 is provided for each of pin racks 20 and 2l. Support frames 23 are preferably each slidably mounted on a support and resiliently connected thereto by a spring 24. This arrangement is effective to absorb the shock to which the spectator in each capsule might otherwise be exposed in initial stages of engagement of pin rack 20 or 21 with the pinion 19 in each capsule.

The mechanism shown in FIG. 4 may be used for causing each capsule to turn around through 180? about shaft 8 when each capsule is indexed with the entrance and exit position of the spectator-stand. In FIG. 4, an arm 25 is secured to each shaft 8 for rotation therewith, the arm 25 rotatably supporting rollers 26 and 27 at opposite ends thereof. A substantially circular guide wall with which the rollers 26 and 27 in all the capsules are maintained in rolling engagement is provided on a fixed floor. When the spectator-stand revolves about fixed shaft 5, the rollers in each capsule rollingly move along a substantially circular guide wall As shown in FIG. 4, the substantially circular guide wall ceases to be circular near the entrance and exit position of the spectatobstand and is deformed. The deformed guide wall portion comprises two straight wall members 28A and 28B tangential to substantially circular guide wall 28 and a recess 28C formed between two straight wall members 28A and 28B. juxtaposed to the deformed wall portion is an an cillaryguide wall portion 29 comprising two straight wall members 29A and 29B, a side wall 29C, and guide grooves 30 and SI are disposed between two straight wall members 29A and 29B of ancillary guide wall portion 29 and the two straight wall members 28A and 28B of the deformed guide wall portion respectively for permitting rollers 27 to pass therethrough, side wall 29C constitutes a guide groove for rollers 26 as subsequently to be described. 32 designates the path of movement of shafts 8 about fixed shaft 5. Two sets of deformed guide wall portions and ancillary guide 'wall portions constructed as aforementioned are provided substantially symmetrically with respect to a center 33 of the entrance and exit position of the spectator-stand.

The two rollers provided in each capsule rollingly move counter clockwise in FIG. 4 along the substantially circular guide wall, and the leadingroller 27 is introduced into guide groove 30 of the deformed and ancillary guide wall portions on the left side of the center 33 when the particular capsule reaches near the entrance and exit position of the spectator-stand. At this time the particular capsule having such two rollers 26 and 27 is disposed such that its window 7 faces inwardly of the spectator-stand toward display section 14. Further movement of roller 27 in guide groove 30 results in its being released from engagement with the substantially circular guide wall 28, so that arm 25 angularly rotates clockwise through a small angle together with shaft 8. This causes the trailing roller 26.to be released from engagement with the substantially circular wall 28 and-moved inwardly into engagement with side wall 29C. The rollers 26 and 27 in this position are designated 26' and 27'. It will be understood that each capsule turns about shaft 8 together with arm 25.

As the shaft 8 of the particular capsule further moves clockwise along its path of movement 32, roller 27 is brought into engagement with recess28C while roller 26' is disposed in the middle of side wall 29C. The rollers 26 and 27 in this position are designated 26" and 27". When rollers 26" and 27 are in this position, the capsule turns about shaft 8 through Then, the two rollers successively move into positions 26" and 27" and 26 and 27" and the capsule further turns about shaft 8 through another 90 when the capsule is indexed with the entrance and exit position of the spectator-stand 33.

The capsule remains stationary for a predetermined interval of time at the entrance and exit position of the spectator-stand, and then turns about shaft 8 through another at the another deformed guide wall before its rollers 26 and 27 are brought into engagement with substantially. circular guide wall 28.

In FIG. 5, six capsules 2A, 2B, 2C-2F are mounted on a stationary base frame 34 for rotation about their own axis. In the embodiment shown, a display stand 41 carrying models 14 and halfmirrors 13 is adapted to be rotated about fixed center shaft 5 by a drive motor 42. Capsules 2A 2F have mounted, on their undersides, chain wheels 35A, 35F respectively, with a chain 36 being trained about all the chain wheels. A reversible motor 37 is attached to one of the chain wheels or chain wheel 35A in the illustrated embodiment for driving other chain wheels through chain wheel 35A and chain 36.

Two limit switches 38 and 39 are disposed on bottom frame 34 in positions on opposite sides of chain wheel 35A. A controller 40 projects downwardly from the bottom of capsule 2A to actuate an actuator of each limit switch. 45 is a tensioning wheel for chain 36.

Operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 will now be described with reference to FIG. 6. Capsules 2A to 2F are disposed such that their windows 7 face inwardly of the spectator-stand, and display stand 41 is continuously rotated about fixed center shaft 5 by drive motor 42 at all times, so that the spectator in each capsule watches models 14 in each display section on display stand 41 through respective window 7. At this time, controller 40 actuates limit switch 38 which is in a broken line position in FIG. 6 to actuate a timer 43 which is adapted to close its contact 43A after, say, 100 seconds.

Display stand 41 makes one complete revolution in 100 seconds, so that the spectator in each capsule watches models and the like in all the display sections on display stand 41. Contact 43A is closed by a pulse from timer 43 to actuate a relay 44 and close a holding contact 44a and a motor reversing contact 44B of relay 44. This: reverses the rotation of motor 37 to move chain 30 along its path of movement, so that capsules ZAto 2F are rotated clockwise about respective shafts through chain wheels 35A to 35F rotating clockwise about respective shafts 8, 9. This releases the controller disposed in capsule 2Afrom engagement with limit switch 38 which is brought to a solid line position shown inFlG. 4. This de-actuates timer 43 and opens its contact 43A; However, relay 44 is kept actuated through holding contact 44a, so that motor 37 continues to rotate.

When controller 40 is brought into contact with limit switch 39 and actuates the same, the latter is brought to a broken line position shown in FIG. 6. This deactuates relay 44 and opens contacts 44A and 445, with a result that motor 47 stops rotating and a timer 45is actuated simultaneously. Thus, all the capsules 2A to 2F turn round into positions in which their windows 7 face outwardly of the spectator-stand, thereby permittin g all the spectators who have finished with watching the displays to leave the capsules and new spectators to enter the capsules.

Timer 45 is adapted to close a contact 45A after a predetermined time interval or fifteen seconds, for example, and actuates a relay 46. Actuation of relay 46 closes its holding contact 46A and a normal direction rotation contact 46B of motor 37, so that motor 37 rotates in the normal direction and moves chain 36. Thus, all the capsules move counter clockwise in FIG. 5 about shaft 5 till controller 40 actuates limit switch 38. Even if controller 40 is released from contact with limit switch 39 at thistime, relay 46 is held through holding contact 46A and remains actuated and motor 47 continues to rotate.

When controller 40 strikes limit switch 38 and actuates the same, the latter isbrought to a broken line position shown in FIG. 6, so that relay 46 is de-actuated and motor 37 stops rotating. Thus, timer 43 is actuated and all the elements return to their positions described at the beginning of the description of operation of this embodiment.

it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described herein. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, motor 37 may be rotated only in one direction without causing the same to rotate in the reverse direction, and each capsule may be provided with one motor, for example. If each capsule were provided with a motor respectively, it would be possible to permit each capsule to turn round about its own axis to permit its occupant to leave it and a new occupant to enter it independently of other capsules. Also, it is possible to fix the display stand of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and permit all the capsules to move about the display stand.

What I claim is:

l. A spectator-stand comprising a base, a center shaft extending upwardly from said base, a floor mounted on and extending radially outwardly from said shaft, a plurality of capsules disposed on said floor and forming a circle of said capsules, wherein said capsules are spaced outwardly from said shaft, each of said capsules arranged to rotate about its own upwardly extending axis, said capsules being equidistantly spaced apart from one another and each of said capsules being formed in one portion thereof with a window serving as an entrance to and an exit from said capsule and being closed in the remaining portions thereof, a display section located about the center shaft inwardly of and en circled by said circle of capsules, a covering about said display section cooperating with said capsules for maintaining said display section lighttight, lamps arranged to illuminate said display section, means for individually rotating said capsules for selectively orienting the position ofthe windows therein, and means for moving said capsules and display section relative to one another.

2. A spectator-stand, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said display section is arranged in a fixed and stationary position, said means for moving said capsules and said display section relative to one another arranged for intermittently moving said plurality of capsules along a predetermined path about the center axis of said spectator-stand, and said means for individually rotating said capsules arranged for causing each of said plurality of capsules to turn around through about its own vertical center axis when it is indexed with an entrance and exit position of the spectator-stand so as to cause its window to face radially outwardly of the center axis of the spectator stand, and also for causing each of said plurality of capsules to turn around through 180 about its vertical center axis when it is brought out of index with said entrance and exit position of the spectator stand so as to cause its window to face inwardly toward the center axis of the spectator-stand.

3. A spectator-stand, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for individually rotating said capsules includes a plurality of pinions of the same number as said plurality of capsules, each of said plurality of pinions being mounted at the center axis of one of said plurality of capsules, a pin rack mounted anterior to the entrance and exit position of the spectator along the path of movement of the capsules and arranged to engage each said pinion mounted in each said capsule and cause the respective capstile to turn around through 180 about its center axis. and another pin rack mounted posterior to the entrance andexit position of the spectator-stand alongthe path of movement of the capsules and arranged to engage each said pinion mounted in each said capsule andcause the respective capsule to turn around through 180 about its center axis.

of capsules to turn around simultaneously through about its own center axis and causing the same to turn around simultaneously through 180 about its center axis again after a predetermined time interval so that each said capsule is restored to its initial position. 

1. A spectator-stand comprising a base, a center shaft extending upwardly from said base, a floor mounted on and extending radially outwardly from said shaft, a plurality of capsules disposed on said floor and forming a circle of said capsules, wherein said capsules are spaced outwardly from said shaft, each of said capsules arranged to rotate about its own upwardly extending axis, said capsules being equidistantly spaced apart from one another and each of said capsules being formed in one portion thereof with a window serving as an entrance to and an exit from said capsule and being closed in the remaining portions thereof, a display section located about the center shaft inwardly of and encircled by said circle of capsules, a covering about said display section cooperating with said capsules for maintaining said display section lighttight, lamps arranged to illuminate said display section, means for individually rotating said capsules for selectively orienting the Position of the windows therein, and means for moving said capsules and display section relative to one another.
 2. A spectator-stand, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said display section is arranged in a fixed and stationary position, said means for moving said capsules and said display section relative to one another arranged for intermittently moving said plurality of capsules along a predetermined path about the center axis of said spectator-stand, and said means for individually rotating said capsules arranged for causing each of said plurality of capsules to turn around through 180* about its own vertical center axis when it is indexed with an entrance and exit position of the spectator-stand so as to cause its window to face radially outwardly of the center axis of the spectator stand, and also for causing each of said plurality of capsules to turn around through 180* about its vertical center axis when it is brought out of index with said entrance and exit position of the spectator stand so as to cause its window to face inwardly toward the center axis of the spectator-stand.
 3. A spectator-stand, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for individually rotating said capsules includes a plurality of pinions of the same number as said plurality of capsules, each of said plurality of pinions being mounted at the center axis of one of said plurality of capsules, a pin rack mounted anterior to the entrance and exit position of the spectator along the path of movement of the capsules and arranged to engage each said pinion mounted in each said capsule and cause the respective capsule to turn around through 180* about its center axis, and another pin rack mounted posterior to the entrance and exit position of the spectator-stand along the path of movement of the capsules and arranged to engage each said pinion mounted in each said capsule and cause the respective capsule to turn around through 180* about its center axis.
 4. A spectator-stand, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for moving said capsules and said display section relative to one another is arranged for rotating said display section about the center axis of the spectator-stand and said means for individually rotating said capsules is arranged for causing each of said plurality of capsules to turn around simultaneously through 180* about its own center axis and causing the same to turn around simultaneously through 180* about its center axis again after a predetermined time interval so that each said capsule is restored to its initial position. 